How Reading Fuels Writing (and Why They Grow Together)

How good reading habits help kids become confident writers—and what you can do to support both

Welcome back to Raising Readers, a blog series created to help parents support strong literacy skills in meaningful and manageable ways. Each post shares practical tips, personal insights, and the research behind why reading matters so much. In this post, we’re looking at how reading and writing develop side-by-side and why building both is one of the best things you can do for your child.

Reading and writing are often taught as separate skills. One focuses on understanding, the other on expressing.

But in reality, the two are closely linked. Reading gives children the language, structure, and confidence they need to write. When they read it models for them what good writing sounds like. Writing helps them process and deepen what they read. When both are nurtured, children grow faster in each.

Reading Builds the Mental Framework for Writing

Before a child ever picks up a pencil, they’re absorbing how language works.

Through stories, they hear how sentences are formed, how dialogue flows, and how ideas build on one another. They learn rhythm and tone just by listening. This becomes the internal framework they draw from when it’s their turn to write. This is why we talk to babies and why its not too late if you have a reluctant reader (or writer). 

Children who are regularly read to tend to have stronger narrative skills and a broader vocabulary, both of which are linked to better writing outcomes.

(National Early Literacy Panel, 2008; Mol & Bus, 2011)

That’s why even preschoolers sometimes use “book language” when they play. They’re already picking up structure, vocabulary, and storytelling just by listening and reading.

Writing Helps Them Find Their Voice

Writing gives kids a space to organize thoughts, express emotions, and take ownership of ideas. It turns passive knowledge into active use.

At first, their writing may be rough or scattered. That’s normal. With time and regular exposure to good books (even audiobooks), their writing becomes more focused and purposeful. They begin to use stronger words, vary their sentence style, and care about clarity because they’ve seen it done well.

This is part of what researchers call “reading-writing transfer.” Frequent reading gives kids a mental library of sentence structures, transitions, and descriptive language that begins to show up in their own writing.

(Shanahan, 2016; Tierney & Shanahan, 1991)

Writing about something they’ve read also helps solidify the experience. Whether it’s retelling a scene, drawing a comic, or scribbling a list of facts, it’s their way of saying, “This matters to me.”

Some Kids Are Storytellers First

Sometimes, it works the other way around. You may have a child with big ideas and a vivid imagination, but the physical act of writing can’t keep up just yet.

For these kids, storytelling comes naturally, while spelling and handwriting feel frustrating. That doesn’t mean they aren’t writers. It just means they need different tools.

Try letting them record their stories aloud in a phone voice memo, illustrate them like a picture book, or dictate to you while you write. Focus on helping them feel heard. If they do want to write by hand, hold back from correcting errors. This isn't school work, it's creativity.

The most important thing is encouraging their storytelling and that will boost their confidence. The rest will grow with time.

Writing Helps Them Process Emotions

Writing isn’t just about forming letters or practicing grammar. It’s about helping children organize their thoughts, express their ideas, and share what matters to them.

Even young kids can use writing to make sense of big feelings. Whether they’re scribbling in a notebook, drawing a picture with a caption, or finishing the sentence “Today I felt…,” writing gives them a safe outlet to reflect and be heard.

This kind of expressive writing supports emotional regulation and builds confidence. It shows kids that their thoughts and experiences matter—even before they know how to spell every word.

Research shows that expressive writing—jotting thoughts or feelings—can reduce anxiety and boost mood in children and adults alike (Verywell Health / Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005) 

For children, that means their own simple writing (or drawing for the very young) can support resilience just as much as sharing with someone else.

Even Reluctant Writers Respond to Stories

Some kids resist writing because they worry about spelling or getting it wrong. Others simply haven’t found a reason to care yet.

In his memoir, On Writing, Stephen King shares how one comment from his mother about a story he wrote at age six had a lasting impact on his life.

“She said it was good, and that one sentence changed everything.”

When a child connects with a story, something shifts. Suddenly, they want to talk about it and share it with you. Maybe they imagine a sequel, invent their own character, or write a new ending. That spark is often the bridge to motivating them to become a better writer.

Reading and Writing Support Every Subject

Strong readers and writers are better positioned to succeed across the board. It’s not just about Language Arts.

Reading helps kids make sense of what they learn. Writing helps them explain it. And together, they boost confidence across every subject.

According to a longitudinal study from the Institute of Education Sciences, students with higher reading achievement show stronger performance in nearly every subject area.

(IES, 2016; Snow & Uccelli, 2009)

A child who can understand directions, reflect on what they’ve learned, and explain their thinking is more confident in every classroom.

You Don’t Have to Be a Teacher to HelpYou don’t need a fancy program or workbook to support your child’s writing. What matters most is having a home where words are part of everyday life—where stories are told, questions are asked, and writing feels normal.

When reading and writing are just something we do at home, kids grow up seeing them as part of who they are. In fact, studies show that little things like having books around and encouraging early writing can make a big difference in how kids do in school later on.

Here are a few simple ways to help:

• Ask open-ended questions during or after reading: “Why do you think that happened?” or “What would you do next?”
• Keep writing tools easily available—pens, markers, scrap paper, notebooks
• Focus on ideas over spelling when they write
• Let them write about what they love, even if it’s superheroes, pets, or video games
• Point out real-life writing moments: grocery lists, thank-you notes, sticky notes on the fridge

Try This at Home

• Let your child write or draw a new ending to a favorite story
• Start a notebook you pass back and forth with short messages or questions
• The Dollar Stores have little pocket size notebooks for creating fun tiny books
• For tech-loving children offer computers with no internet for typing out stories
• Keep a “word jar” and add interesting or unusual word for a word-a-day
• Try a simple book log or journal with one sentence and a doodle
• After reading, ask, “Would you ever want to write something like that?”
• Model it yourself—jot down thoughts, dreams, or lists where they can see

Reading and writing grow and develop together and when we give kids the chance to build both, we’re not just teaching them skills. We are unlocking and opening doors for their future.